# I've got to put my cat to sleep. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 16, 2004, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159 "2004-08-16T23:46:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/21 "2004-08-18T11:32:19Z")
Mom & Dad ( I rent from my parents) are taking him to the Vet this morning. I gave him a last hug. When I left this morning… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Tiggrkitty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tiggrkitty/32/17966_2.png) [@Tiggrkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiggrkitty)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/22 "2004-08-18T11:46:25Z")
You have my deepest and sincere sympathy. Cardsfan and I had to put down my 22 year old cat back in March of this year. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do and the guilt that followed was miserable. We put Chauncey’s quality of life first and foremost. He was so old that he could barely walk to get a drink or eat and was starving himself to death. Looking back it was the right thing to do, but at the time we felt guilty for the decision we made. Know in your heart it is far kinder to put them to sleep than allow them to suffer needlessly. He has had a long and pampered life and was very much loved by you and your family. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/23 "2004-08-18T12:41:03Z")
Drag, Bos. I’ve had to do this a lot, and it’s no fun. One suggestion: We used two different vets the last time we did this (two cats in two weeks!). If you have a choice, do the “one-shot” method. One vet used the two-shot method, which is supposed to calm the animal before the actual end. All it did was stress our kitty out. He was tense, upset, and not at all happy on his way out. The One-Shot guy just did it, and our little girl kitty just drifted away peacefully. Sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/24 "2004-08-18T17:51:21Z")
I’m so sorry\*\* Bosda\*\*. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/25 "2004-08-18T23:51:39Z")
I’m so sorry Bosda. The pets in our lives mean so much to us… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Silocke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Silocke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silocke)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/26 "2004-08-19T00:32:12Z")
I didn’t wanna open this thread since being a cat-owner (2) myself, I can’t bear to even think about it. I remember my first cat Minnie. My mother had to stay with her in the last few hours whilst I was out helping a friend put up his garden shed. I remember coming back and finding her lying there, motionless, her mouth sort of slightly open. My mother had her wrapped in a blanket - almost like so she would stay warm. Unlike our current cats, she came to us when she was rather old and sick (our back yard was to cats what flames are to moths). But I’m glad to know that she lived out the last few years of her life in care (someone had obviously abandoned her). You know what’s funny? I didn’t even know beforehand that it would happen. I knew she had some discomfort but I thought of taking her to the vet the following week. In short, I thought nothing of it. And then she was gone. But in some huge ways, I’m glad she went (relatively) peacefully, instead of in constant blinding pain. I would’ve hated that. And if a choice ever came where it had to be that, I think (difficultly) it HAS to be made. I think you made the right choice. I think to let the guy go makes it easier for him. I’m sorry for your loss. ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/27 "2004-08-19T05:16:11Z")
{{{{{ **Bosda** }}}}} I’m so sorry about your baby. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/28 "2004-08-19T05:29:08Z")
I’ve thankfully never had to put a cat down, but I’ll never forget going looking for the 10 year old cat I grew up with one day, and finding her body laying in the tall grass behind our house. I can’t imagine how it feels having to make the decision. If you feel like going looking for cats in a few months, though, let me know. I love looking at kittens! ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/29 "2004-08-19T06:01:44Z")
You did all you could. And did the right thing by your pet. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159/30 "2004-08-19T11:36:14Z")
He’s gone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-got-to-put-my-cat-to-sleep/260159.md?page=1)